Digital hub opens to train teachers in new tech

The hub will be used by teachers to learn new technologies such as virtual reality

A digital hub that aims to bring teachers up to speed with the latest technologies and create immersive learning experiences has opened.

Tresham College in Kettering, Northamptonshire, officially unveiled its Digital Innovation Hub this week.

The facility features virtual reality (VR) stations, augmented reality (AR) equipment, 3D printing machinery, robots and interactive displays.

Yiannis Koursis, chief executive of The Bedford College Group, said the hub would give teachers a "safe space" to learn the latest technologies.

"Teachers can experiment and learn different technologies to enhance the way we teach students," he said.

"It's things like being able to use VR and AR to look into the heart and how the heart is working, so it's really exciting."

Mark Tinney said the hub was important to show teachers new technologies

The hub, which has been paid for through college reserves, will be managed by Mark Tinney, who will run workshops and sessions to show how the technologies can be used in lessons.

'An impact on teaching'

"One of the problems that a lot of schools and colleges have is spending a lot of money on buying equipment and [then] getting teachers to use it, and it having an impact on teaching," Mr Tinney said.

"Training them on how to use it isn’t enough; we've got to follow that through, and that's what this space is intended to do."

The innovation centre was developed in collaboration with Cisco, a company offering IT and consulting services.